Thirsty Trails

Chapter 1 | Supernatural Aisle

"Do not smell the books."

"Noses are nasty. Keep your nose away from the books."

Joel furrowed his eyebrows at the weird sign boards hung over the library walls.

Where are they?

He had been walking around the library not knowing where to go, the library being lifeless a plus point in keeping him encouraged for the search.

He knew that if any one recognised him, he'd dash out the door.

He increased his pace down the corridor once the supernatural aisle came into view.

"Finally," he huffed out and searched for the books he needed, still conspicuous of his surroundings.

The books with the dark and horror theme covers made him question his decision again but the glimpse of his crush's face in his mind reminded him what was it's worth.

He pulled the books out before banging his forehead onto the wood of the bookshelf lightly and groaned as the weight of the books flashed the heavy reality at him.

That he, Joel Swords, was a goner.

"What all am I gonna do?" but there was an innocent smile that pulled at his lips.

He got it bad.

The girl with those black eyes that pulled him deep into a spiral whenever he looked into them. Her light brown hair that streaked gold under the bright sun whenever she sat in the bleachers waiting for her friends, her glow making him halt in his steps always while playing basketball.

Niana.

The loud girl who had recently transferred to their school, the one that had every guy place bets on who would get to win her over.

But not Joel. He knew that everyone was trying to get her attention, but no one was aware that he, the basketball captain himself had threw the dart on the mark and had his work in motion already.

Which, by the way, was the main reason why he found himself in the lonely library on a saturday afternoon looking for information on the damn bloodsuckers.

He took a couple of books and carried them to the table in the reading area where he had previously placed his bag at.

"I better get a kiss for this," he muttered to himself before picking up one of the books and delved into reading it.

*****

Joel never read anything exclusively besides the academics. So, it amazed him when he took a water break only to realise it had been well over a couple of hours.

When he didn't find a water bottle in his bag, he got up and went out whistling into the parking lot to his car to get it.

The book he had picked was a mythology one, not a romantic one, so the study's fine so far.

After emptying half of the water, he leaned against his car door observing his surroundings. The winter breeze was quite pleasant, he could feel the lightness in the air. Less pollution and humidity.